Chapter 369: I'm Truly Very Lucky to Have Met Him!
Looking at Edelweiss as she walked over, Tsukikage revealed a helpless smile.
He sat down on the sofa in the smoking area and gestured for Edelweiss to sit as well before speaking with a sigh.
"I really didn't expect you to appear here, Edel."
"I don't think you'd be interested in a competition between students. In other words, did you come to see this old man who was just hated by his student?"
"You're joking, Tsukikage-sensei. You're still in the prime of your life right now."
Accepting Tsukikage's invitation, Edelweiss walked to the sofa and sat down across from him.
There was a table between the sofas, covered with prepared snacks and drinks.
From the looks of it, although the smoking area was extremely unlikely to be used, the organizers had still thoughtfully prepared everything.
Watching Tsukikage reach out and pour a cup of coffee, Edelweiss hesitated before also pouring herself a cup.
Staring at the dark-brown liquid in the cup and smelling the bitterness drifting into her nose before she had even taken a sip, Edelweiss's small face immediately scrunched up.
Subconsciously, she wanted to throw the cup in her hand aside.
However, after hesitating for a moment, she still did not do so.
Thinking that Tsukikage-sensei was sitting right across from her, and that she was already a mature woman with a boyfriend now, Edelweiss finally steeled her heart and abruptly raised the cup!
…Then cautiously took a tiny sip.
And then…
"!!! …Peh, peh, peh… QAQ"
Her strange series of actions almost made Tsukikage burst out laughing on the spot.
"I was still wondering when you changed your taste, Edel. So you were trying to act mature."
"I-I wasn't acting!"
Hearing the undisguised teasing in Tsukikage's words, Edelweiss's face immediately filled with embarrassment and annoyance.
As though she were a child eager to prove to an elder that she was not lying, Edelweiss blurted out an explanation.
"I-I-I already have a boyfriend! I'm no longer the little girl who followed behind you and Ryoma-sensei!"
Hearing Edelweiss suddenly expose herself, Tsukikage was instantly surprised.
This news was simply too impactful.
Tsukikage even forgot to drink the coffee he had just poured and immediately pressed her.
"Now this is truly shocking and delightful news."
"I thought I'd never see you get a boyfriend in this life. I believe Ryoma would certainly feel relieved if he knew from the afterlife."
"Mm… Who is he? Which country is he from? Is he some famous international powerhouse?"
"No matter what, I absolutely have to meet this person."
"I can't let little Edel be snatched away by some bad man."
Facing Tsukikage's questions, Edelweiss, who had not intended to reveal this matter right now, instantly panicked.
"Eh? N-No, that isn't it! I-I-I didn't mean that!"
"I-I mean… this… that… i-it's just… uuu… That isn't what I meant."
Seeing Edelweiss's reaction, Tsukikage guessed what she was thinking.
So he let out a faint sigh and pretended to speak in disappointment.
"Ah, I see. Edel, you've learned to be bad too. The old you would never have told such a lie to me and Ryoma…"
"I'm not lying! I really… It's just… I-I'm just a little…"
"Ah, I see. That's true. After all, unlike Ryoma, who taught you swordsmanship, I'm not your teacher in the true sense. It's only natural that you'd want to hide things from me…"
"N-No! You and Ryoma-sensei are both people I respect!"
"Besides… now that Ryoma-sensei has passed away, you are the only elder I can still call that. Whether in feeling or reason, I would have to introduce him to you sooner or later…"
Edelweiss's voice grew softer and softer.
She even secretly glanced toward the nearby window, as though afraid Luke would hear her.
"I-I'm just a little embarrassed. I didn't originally plan to tell you so soon…"
Looking at Edelweiss, who was blushing and muttering softly, Tsukikage smiled with relief.
He did not continue pressing her.
Instead, he spoke with some emotion.
"It really has been so long. How many years has it been since I last saw such rich expressions on your face?"
"When exactly did it start? Was it after you became a wanted criminal? Or was it from the time Ryoma passed away?"
"Your face had almost nothing left but that dignified expression."
"Seeing how happy you are now, I can rest assured… Heh, in this regard, I truly can't compare to Ryoma."
"Tsukikage-sensei…"
Listening to Tsukikage's words, Edelweiss also felt emotional for a moment.
"So your boyfriend is that foreign man named Luke Ashburn, right?"
"Mm, that's right, it's him… Mm? Eh?? W-Wait! You tricked me into saying it?!?!"
"Hehe. Edel, you're still a little too inexperienced."
Looking at Tsukikage's pleased expression, Edelweiss immediately became unhappy and picked up her cup, intending to take a large sip of her drink to calm herself down.
And then…
"…QAQ"
Edelweiss, who was once again hit by the bitterness of coffee, became even more unhappy.
She turned her head away and averted her gaze, putting on an "I'm angry" expression.
However, her hands honestly picked up the sugar jar and began adding sugar to the coffee.
Looking at Edelweiss like this, Tsukikage did not know whether to laugh or cry.
"If you're that afraid of bitterness, then don't pick coffee from the start."
"…Hmph!"
"…"
Realizing that Edelweiss really had no intention of paying attention to him, Tsukikage could only shake his head helplessly.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to guide the topic toward something Edelweiss was interested in.
"Judging from your expression just now, Kurono's student should already be a very important existence to you, right?"
"Tell me the story of you two. I'd like to know what kind of extraordinary person could move our extremely discerning Edel-chan."
Once the topic was shifted to Luke, Edelweiss indeed no longer had the heart to sulk.
Her gaze softened.
Remembering her meeting with Luke, their battle, and the time they had spent together recently, the corners of Edelweiss's lips unconsciously lifted into a happy smile.
"I'm truly very lucky to have met him."
Although he had already prepared himself mentally, after seeing Edelweiss's heartfelt smile, Tsukikage still could not help feeling amazed.
That expression was one he had never seen before.
Even back when she had followed behind him and Ryoma, Edelweiss had never shown such a happy smile.
Guided by this topic, Tsukikage and Edelweiss unconsciously looked toward the nearby window at the same time, intending to search for the main character of their conversation.
Then the two of them saw Yakushi Kiriko unbuttoning her white coat and treating Luke to fanservice.
"…"
"…"
In an instant, the atmosphere became somewhat stiff.
…
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